MoreGun89;5418673I fully agree with this statement, free speech is not absolute, there is a consequence to the material presented. Westboro needs a consequence to their douchebaggery.

free speech is free speech. Westboro operates in a country that respects that right for good or ill. in their case Westboro reaps shiat publicity so that nobody in the congregation is without constant ridicule. thats THEIR consequence.

This facebook goon lives in a country where free speech is subjective at best, so he reaped the whirlwind in that instance.

Who decides what is douchebaggery? Boom, free speech is gone. It's not free if someone is deciding what can and can't be said, whether it be called douchebaggery or not.[/QUOTE]

The Jury decides. As the Jury is drawn from the general public... =p
We the people decide.

[QUOTE=Vertical345;5422961]
There are very few circumstances where speech should be limited, and it's mainly only when someone can be hurt physically as a result.

These facebook comments, while stupid, posed no threat to ANYONE physically, and this guy should have never been arrested.

However, civil rights and England don't quite go together anymore.

Please cite why civil rights don't exist in England anymore? I think the right to not have malicious and vile lies and abuse thrown at you trumps whomevers freedom to say whatever they want. Freedom of speech is not absolute and comes with responsibilities as well as rights in Britain.

Also, I'm going to dig up the blatantly obvious counter to the tiresome American line of "BWAAA ENGLAND IS A POLICE STATE1!1!!!" because i'm getting fed up of listening to it. I hope Americans won't take any more offence than we Brits do.

That having been said, we have an old saying.

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!
Guantanamo bay.

Freyr;5422986The Jury decides. As the Jury is drawn from the general public... =p
We the people decide.

Oh the people decide? So is it normal for them to convict people who are just exercising their right of free speech?

Please cite why civil rights don't exist in England anymore?

The government refuses to acknowledge the human right of self defense, and now freedom of speech as well.

I think the right to not have malicious and vile lies and abuse thrown at you trumps whomevers freedom to say whatever they want. Freedom of speech is not absolute and comes with responsibilities as well as rights in Britain.

Here in America we have a saying "Your rights end where mine begin." For example, if I am carrying a gun, which is a protected right, and it makes someone uncomfortable, then too bad. I am exercising a protected right, so it doesn't matter what people think of it. The same goes for this situation. The guy was practicing a (supposedly) protected right, so other people should screw off, because it really wasn't hurting anyone.

Also, I'm going to dig up the blatantly obvious counter to the tiresome American line of "BWAAA ENGLAND IS A POLICE STATE1!1!!!" because i'm getting fed up of listening to it. I hope Americans won't take any more offence than we Brits do.

That having been said, we have an old saying.

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!
Guantanamo bay.

Need I say more? :rolleyes:

And I would be right there to support your argument on Guantanamo bay. I'm NOT saying America is better than Britain, or ANYTHING like that. I'm a libertarian, I believe strongly in free nations, whether they be mine, or someone else's. When I see peoples rights violated it gets me mad. I have no anti-British agenda, and if this happened in America, I would be EQUALLY upset about it.

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